Mooney production to relaunch Feb. 26

KERRVILLE, Texas — Production on the first Mooney airplane to be built since 2009 is set to begin Feb. 26.

According to Mooney CEO Dr. Jerry Chen, the new leadership at Mooney has spent the past few months preparing the dormant company’s return to manufacturing.

The airplane manufacturer was purchased last October by Soaring America Corporation, a new California-based company financed by a group of Chinese investors.

“This is an important date in the history of Mooney,” said Chen. “There has been an extraordinary effort on the part of everyone at Mooney and I couldn’t be more proud of what has been accomplished in a short amount of time.”

The company now employs more than 55 people at the Kerrville operation, according to officials, who note that the facility is being upgraded with new manufacturing equipment.

“We believe in the future of Mooney and we have a solid plan, otherwise we wouldn’t be making such significant investments in the company,” said Chen.

The first plane that will come off the production line in 2014 will be a M20TN Acclaim Type S. The new model will by powered by the TSIO-550-G-Turbo Normalized engine and include an upgraded Garmin G1000 Integrated Avionics Suite.

To help celebrate the company’s comeback, the Mooney Airplane Pilots Association (MAPA) will host its annual Homecoming Convention at the Kerrville Airport, next to Mooney’s facilities, April 10-13.

“There is so much pent-up excitement about Mooney’s return,” said Trey Hughes, MAPA president. “The owners are anxious to personally meet Dr. Chen and hear about the future of the company.”

In appreciation of the Kerrville’s support of Mooney, the company will open its factory doors to the public and host tours through the manufacturing facility during the MAPA Homecoming event, company officials noted.

In its 85-year history, Mooney has delivered more than 11,000 aircraft worldwide. Today, more than 7,800 pilots in the United States and 1,000 more overseas fly Mooneys.